Possible problem with Bees dying found

When the Europeans first came to the Americas there were no large acreages devoted to just a single crop. As the settlers moved west, then also did not grow one single crop, but had a few acres of this and few acres of that and these small plots were surrounded by wild fields and forests.

In these wild areas, left that way for several reasons, live many species of bees, related insects and other pollinators. They were just fine to pollinate when the crops were small amounts, and mixed.
The native flowers growing in the areas left wild also provided pollen and nectar when the crops were not flowering, so the native pollinators lived just fine.

Today there are hundreds of acres of one crop, all needing pollination all at one time, then nothing to feed the pollinators after the flowers are gone. Thus, migratory beekeeping. Move the honeybee colonies to whatever crop needs the pollination. Then move them on to the next crop.

Almonds in California in February attract up to 50% of the honeybees in the United States. (Side issue: this is how diseases and parasites of bees are spread so fast)

Farmers who grow alfalfa and many other things for seed (carrots, broccoli and its relatives and many, many more seed crops) need these to be pollinated, too. If they are growing alfalfa for hay, or carrots to eat or many other crops they do not need bees. They want the leaves, stems, roots and so on, but not the seed.

Mistergreen's advice to "stay away" from killer bees is good, but the question is, will the killer bees stay away from US? They are super aggressive, and will attack with very little provocation. Something as innocent as walking out in your yard, not even paying attention to them, can trigger an attack if they perceive you're getting too close to them. Kids are most vulnerable.

Your regular honeybees are more passive, and you really have to deliberately molest them before they'll come after you, or accidentally place your hand on one.

The only real bees in my garden are bumblebees, about three different species. We don't get honeybees, but we do get plenty of wasps and hornets in their place. The bumblers are very passive. They won't bother you unless you first bother them. Wish I could say the same for the yellow-jackets, wasps and hornets!

Yellow-jackets are often called "wild bees", but I've always understood them to be another species of wasp.

In any event, I really appreciate the bumblebees. They do a lot of pollinate my flowers, along with the butterflies and hummingbirds.

-- Aquamom